About this project

$15,953

pledged of $12,000 goal

394

backers

The Big Idea

Fairy tales are universal stories. They touch on many positive themes (love, strength, courage, loyalty, cleverness, kindness and charity) as well as many negative themes (abuse, neglect, abandonment, oppression, exploitation and small-mindedness). They are versatile. They can be unraveled and rewoven over and over again without losing their magic.

We want to create a special edition of Spellbound, our children's fantasy e-zine, and a companion adult anthology, titled Spindles, to take full advantage of fairy tales’ plasticity. We want to publish fairy tales retold to include minority, LGBT, and disabled characters. We want to create stories that include the whole spectrum of humanity and make them truly universal.

The special edition of Spellbound will be very similar to the other issues with the theme of fairy tales. It will feature fiction, poetry and artwork. We’ll also be releasing a lesson plan with it, just as we have done with all the other issues.

The companion adult anthology, Spindles, will have similar content, but will be longer. It will also feature fiction, poetry and artwork. The artwork shown in the video is a good representation of the overall feel of each edition.

We believe so much in this idea that we are trying to raise funds not only to create e-book editions of Spellbound and Spindles, but to also publish limited edition hardcover copies. This is why we are turning to Kickstarter to raise the funds. Printing books, especially hardcovers, is an expensive undertaking. If we cannot raise the funds needed here we will not be able to bring this project to life.

Why We're Doing This

We are creating two anthologies because we believe that the need for diversity knows no bounds. We’re doing it because we haven’t seen this done before. We’re doing it because we feel that it needs to be done and we've got the skills and desire to do so.

Running Spellbound has brought home the idea that if we want to see certain types of stories, we need to ask for them. I've tracked submissions to see what kind of stories we're getting. The details from that exercise led us to update our guidelines to specifically invite stories which feature non-Western European settings, characters and stories, as well as minority and disabled characters. This project is a natural extension of that.

On a personal level, I believe this is important. I have two children—a daughter, Charlotte, aged nine, and a son, Benjamin, aged two. I’m doing it because my daughter is a biracial girl who loves princesses, loves to dress up, and loves the color pink, but also shoots arrows at zombie targets, does science experiments and writes stories like “How Charlotte Defeated King Arthur.” I’m doing it because my son loves trucks and X-wings, but also loves to wear rings and necklaces. I want my children to grow up reading stories that better reflect the world around them.

What The Money Is For

The e-book editions of both will be published in DRM-free ePub format, just like all of the e-books we've published.

If we hit our goals we'll use additional funds for stretch goals:

Stretch Goal #1: $15,000 - We will increase the amount we pay contributors.

Stretch Goal #2: $18,000 - We will increase our print run of Spellbound and Spindles to 400 copies of each.

The Rewards

Backer rewards will include e-versions of Spellbound and Spindles in ePub format, as well as limited edition hardcovers.

Updated: We have also added special bags for backer levels of $35 or more. These bags are pocketed with reinforced bottoms so they stand upright. They are fully lined and have a drawstring closure. Call them dice bags, call them swag bags, call them jewelry bags. Whatever you call them, they are magical and the perfect addition to any fairy tale.

We have also included subscriptions or copies of back issues of Spellbound E-zine, as well as novellas from our catalog, all in ePub format. These will be sent out to backers before the release of the Spellbound: Fairy Tales and Spindles anthology.

Risks and challenges

I think that we can do this because we've already put out three issues of Spellbound, and will soon be releasing the fourth. We have the production of this kind of e-book down and can see it through from start to finish. In addition to Spellbound we have published seven other e-books for adults (novella-length works of speculative fiction), all which have had themes and characters and covers that are diverse.

This project is more involved and complicated than anything Eggplant has attempted before. Because of this, we've built in a long production time. We anticipate releasing both books August 2014. This is to take into account our pre-existing commitments to Eggplant's other publication schedules.

FAQ

Our cover image up there is a detail from Stephen Wood's illustration for the Dragon issue of Spellbound. Stephen has agreed to come on board to create the cover art for both Spellbound and Spindles if we get it funded.

Absolutely! We'll give the option of either back issues or a year's subscription starting with the Winter 2013 issue (Giants) to those backers who choose any levels that include back issues of Spellbound - so: Hansel & Gretel, Snow White & Rose Red, Mother Trudy, Jack & the Beanstalk, Rumplestilskin.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $15 or more
About $15

(Clever Hans) The Spellbound special edition in ePub format, Spindles in ePub format, and a signed postcard featuring the cover art of one of the anthologies and mailed to you as thanks for helping to make this happen.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $25 or more
About $25

(Hansel & Gretel) - The Spellbound special edition in ePub format, 4 issues of Spellbound E-zine (Winter 2012, Spring 2013, Summer 2013 & Fall 2013) in ePub format, and a signed postcard featuring the cover art of one of the anthologies and mailed to you as thanks for helping to make this happen.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $30 or more
About $30

(Jorinda & Joringel) - A copy of Spindles in ePub format, your choice of 3 titles from Eggplant's catalog of novellas in ePub format, and a signed postcard featuring the cover art of one of the anthologies and mailed to you as thanks for helping to make this happen.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $35 or more
About $35

(Rapunzel) The Spellbound special edition in ePub format & limited edition hardcover, and a signed postcard featuring the cover art of one of the anthologies and mailed to you as thanks for helping to make this happen.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $35 or more
About $35

(Iron Hans) - The Spellbound special edition in limited edition hardcover, a copy of Spindles in ePub format, and a signed postcard featuring the cover art of one of the anthologies and mailed to you as thanks for helping to make this happen.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $40 or more
About $40

(Cinderella) A copy of Spindles in ePub format & limited edition hardcover, and a signed postcard featuring the cover art of one of the anthologies and mailed to you as thanks for helping to make this happen.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $40 or more
About $40

(Faithful John) - The Spellbound special edition in ePub format, a copy of Spindles in limited edition hardcover, and a signed postcard featuring the cover art of one of the anthologies and mailed to you as thanks for helping to make this happen.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $50 or more
About $50

(Snow White & Rose Red) The Spellbound special edition in ePub format, 4 issues of Spellbound E-zine (Winter 2012, Spring 2013, Summer 2013 & Fall 2013) in ePub format, a copy of Spindles in ePub format, your choice of 3 titles from Eggplant's catalog of novellas in ePub format, and a signed postcard featuring the cover art of one of the anthologies and mailed to you as thanks for helping to make this happen.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $50 or more
About $50

(Mother Trudy) The Spellbound special edition in ePub format & limited edition hardcover, 4 issues of Spellbound E-zine (Winter 2012, Spring 2013, Summer 2013 & Fall 2013) in ePub format, and a signed postcard featuring the cover art of one of the anthologies and mailed to you as thanks for helping to make this happen.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $50 or more
About $50

(Godfather Death) A copy of Spindles in ePub format & limited edition hardcover, your choice of 5 titles from Eggplant's catalog of novellas in ePub format, and a signed postcard featuring the cover art of one of the anthologies and mailed to you as thanks for helping to make this happen.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $75 or more
About $75

(The Big Bad Wolf) The Spellbound special edition in ePub format & limited edition hardcover, a copy of Spindles in ePub format & limited edition hardcover, and a signed postcard featuring the cover art of one of the anthologies and mailed to you as thanks for helping to make this happen.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $100 or more
About $100

(Jack & the Beanstalk) The Spellbound special edition in ePub format & limited edition hardcover, 4 issues of Spellbound E-zine (Winter 2012, Spring 2013, Summer 2013 & Fall 2013) in ePub format, a copy of Spindles in ePub format & limited edition hardcover, your choice of 5 titles from Eggplant's catalog of novellas in ePub format, and a signed postcard featuring the cover art of one of the anthologies and mailed to you as thanks for helping to make this happen.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $125 or more
About $125

(Rumplestilskin) The Spellbound special edition in ePub format & limited edition hardcover, 4 issues of Spellbound E-zine (Winter 2012, Spring 2013, Summer 2013 & Fall 2013) in ePub format, a copy of Spindles in ePub format & limited edition hardcover, your choice of 7 titles from Eggplant's catalog of novellas in ePub format, and a signed postcard featuring the cover art of one of the anthologies and mailed to you as thanks for helping to make this happen.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $250 or more
About $250

(The Twelve Dancing Princesses) A copy of Spindles in ePub format & limited edition hardcover, all novellas ever published by Eggplant in ePub format, and a signed postcard featuring the cover art of one of the anthologies and mailed to you as thanks for helping to make this happen.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $250 or more
About $250

(The Golden Goose) The Spellbound special edition in ePub format & limited edition hardcover, all issues of Spellbound ever published by Eggplant in ePub format, and a signed postcard featuring the cover art of one of the anthologies and mailed to you as thanks for helping to make this happen.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $500 or more
About $500

(Beauty & the Beast) The Spellbound special edition in ePub format & limited edition hardcover, all issues of Spellbound ever published by Eggplant in ePub format, a copy of Spindles in ePub format & limited edition hardcover, all novellas ever published by Eggplant in ePub format, and a signed postcard featuring the cover art of one of the anthologies and mailed to you as thanks for helping to make this happen.